Bottling and corking machine.



PATBNTED MAY 19; 1903.

F. 0. JERRAM. 'BOTTLING AND comma MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 5, 1902.

e SHEETS-SHEET 1..

-NO MODEL.

Tn: NORRIS PETERS 0o PHoTaurHou wAsMmomN. n. c.

No. 728,396. A PATENTED MAY 19, 1903.

' F. 0. JERRAM.

BOTTLING AND GORKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 THE NORMS PETERS co. PHOYO'LH'HO WASHINGTON,:Jv c.

PATENTED MAY 19, 1903:

F. 0. LTBRRAM. BOTTLING AND GORKING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED MAY 6,1902.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

ZZZ/g No. 728,396. PATENTED MAY 19, 1903.

- F. 0. JERRAM. V

BQTTLING AND GORKING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 5, 1902.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4- HO MODEL.

1 PATENTED MAY 19,1903.-

F.. 0. ,JBRRAM.

BOTTLING AND GORK'ING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1902.-

6 BHEBTSSHEBT 6.

N0 MODEL.

No.72e,39e.

UNITED STATES.

Patented May 19, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

BOTTLING AND CORKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 728,396, dated May 19,1903.

Applieation fi led May 5, 1902. Serial No, 105,960 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: it I Be it known that I, FREDERIC OLDERSHAWJ ERRAM, a subject of theKingof Great Brit-- ain and Ireland, residingat Westcliff on Sea, in the county of Essex, England, haveinventedImprovements in or Relating to Bottling and Corking Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in bottling-1nachinesthatis to say,

machines for charging bottles and like receptacles (hereinafter includedin the term bottles) with liquids and for corking the bottles; and ithas for its object to enable bottles to be filled and corked in a rapid,clean, cheap, and advantageous manner. I p

The invention comprises for these purposes improved bottle-raisingmechanism whereby a number of bottles that may be of varying height canbe raised independently of each other, so that all of them can be causedto bear and be firmly held in a fluid-tightmanner against packing seatsor rings above them while they are being filled with liquid andafterward corked. p

It also comprises an improved arrangement of valves, valve-operatingmechanism, and liquid-supply tubes whereby bottles can be properlycharged with liquid.

It also comprises an arrangement of air-' vent pipes and air flushingmeans whereby the air-vent pipes will be cleared of liquid and frothafter each charging of bottles with liquid.

In also comprises improved bottle centerditferent sizes centrally inposition for filling and corking.

It also comprises an improved arrangement of corking mechanism.

The invention further comprises various other novel featuresofconstruction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all ashereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying illustrative drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show,respectively, in front and side elevation a bottling-machine constructedaccording to this invention. Fig. 3 shows part-of the filling portion ofthe machine to a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a planshowing part of a bottle-car- 'tion.

rier with, bottle centering and holding device thereon. but showing partof the bottle-carrier with bottle-centering and holding device. Fig. 5is a cross-section corresponding to the line A A of Fig. 1, but drawn toalarger scale, showing a modification. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.5, but showing a modified construc- Fig. 7 is a plan showing, part ofthe corking apparatus with a cork trough and pusher. Fig. 8 is a sectioncorresponding to the line B B of Fig. 1, but drawn to a larger scale,showing a cork-compressor and adjacent parts. Fig. 9 is a diagramshowing a modified construction of machine.

- '1 is a frame of any suitable construction, uponwhich is fixed a tank2 to contain the liquid with which bottles are to be filled. The bottomof the tank is formed with one or more liquid-discharge apertures,according to the number of bottles it is desired to fill simultaneously.In the example three apertures are shown, at 3; butthe're may be more orless than three. Eachaperture is surrounded by a-valve-seat 4, Fig. 3,and is controlled by a valve 5, fixed to a vertically-movable rod 6, theupper end of which is supported by a lever-arm 7, fixed to a rock-shaft8. This shaft is mounted in bearings 9 and is capable of being partlyrotated by a hand-lever 10, that is fixed upon a shaft 11, journaled inbear- 12 and lever-arm '13. such that all the valves 5 can be raisedtogether and closed together, according to re- Fig. 4 is asimilar viewto Fig. 3,

quirement, the lower end of each valve-rod corresponding liquid-supplytube 14 is a bottle-guiding device 15, having a flaring lower end andprovided at its in nor upper end with a.

packing-ring 16, that surrounds the said tube and against which theupper end of a bottle can be forced, so as to form a fluid-tight jointtherewith, so that when the bottle is being charged with liquid the airconfined in the upper part of the bottle-neck around the depending tube14 and an air-escape tube 38 (hereinafter referred to) and above thelower end ot the latter tube will-act to prevent the bottle beingcharged to too great an extent with liquid to admit of its beingafterward properly corked.

Fixed to the frame 1 and arranged at a suitable distance below the tank2 is a table or support 17, formed with vertical holes 18 equal innumber to and arranged directly below the liquid-discharge apertures 3.Moun ted to slide or roll endwise upon the table 17 is or are one ormore bottle-carriers 19, constructed with a number of boxes or divisions19 that are spaced at a distance apart equal to'the spaces between theapertures 3 and are adapted to hold and center the bottles to be filled,each of such boxes or divisions being formed with a hole 20 through itsbottom, adapted to register with one of the holes 18 in the table 17.Suitable meanssuch as a vertically-movable pin 21, carried by aspringpress hand-lever 21 and adapted to enter a hole in the bottom ofeach bottle-carrier 19 in turnmay be provided for holding the saidbottle-carriers in the position in which the holes 20 therein willregister with the holes 18 in the table 1'7 during the operations offilling and corking the bottles, as hereinafter described. Below eachaperture 18 in the table 17 is a vertical rod 22, (hereinafter called anelevator,) that is mounted to work vertically in stationary bearings 23on the frame 1 and carries a guide pulleyor part 24, mounted to turnabout a horizontal axis, each elevator being arranged to pass upwardthrough the corresponding hole 18 in the table 17 and one of the holes20 in the bottom of the box or division 19' above and by acting againstthe bottom of a bottle 25 in such box or division to raise the saidbottle sufficiently to cause its upperend to enter the bottle-centeringdevice 15 and bear in a fluid-tight manner against the packingring 16,as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. For raising each bottle-elevator22 and corresponding bottle 25 independently of the otherbottle-elevators and bottles, so that each bottle will be caused to riseto a sufficient height to cause it to bear against its packing-ring 16whatever may be its height, there is passed under eachvertically-movable guide pulley or part 24 a flexible connector 26, thatis led over other guide-pulleys 27,

. which are also mounted to turn about horiserves to return the saidparts to their lower and normal positions when the flexible connector isafterward slackened. In the example the chain 26 is fixed at one end toa winding-drum 29 and after being led in a zigzag direction over andunder the pulleys 27 and 24, respectively, is led back under all thepulleys and has its other end also fixed to the drum 29, which whenrotated will consequently wind up each end of the chain. The drum 29 isfixed upon a shaft 30, mounted to rotate in bearings 31, and is capableof being rotated by a wheel 32, which can be operated by hand orotherwise, as may be desired.

By means of bottle-lifting mechanism constructed and operating asdescribed a number of bottles can be raised independently of each other,so that even should they be of different heights they will all be causedto bear in a fluid-tight manner against their respective packing-ringswhen the chain 26 is fully wound up and will be firmly held in theraised position by practically inextensible or unyielding meanswhilethey are being filled with liquid. This is a feature ofconsiderable practical importance, as the bottles need not be speciallyselected as to height, and there is no risk of overflow of liquidbetween the bottles and their packing-rings owing to an imperfect jointbeing formed between these parts when the bottles are raised. Anysuitable means may be provided for holding the bottle-elevators 22 andbottles in the raised position during the filling and corking of thebottles. For this purpose the pulley 32 may, as shown in Fig. 1, beprovided'with ratchet-teeth 33, with which a pawl 34, pivoted to a fixedpart of the machine, can be caused to engage when the chain 26 is woundup, or each of the said elevators may, as shown in Fig. 2, be formed atthe lower part with a rack 35, with which can be engaged a pawl 36,fixed to the shaft 11, to which the hand-lever 10 is also fixed, thesaid pawl 36 serving to positively support the elevators during thefilling and corking operations, or, as is preferred, both of the saidholding means may be used. In this case the hand-lever 10 may beconnected by a rod 10 to the pawl 34, so that when it is depressed toraise the valves 5 and bring the several pawls 36 into engagement withthe elevators the rod 10 will push the pawl 34 into engagement with theratchet-teeth 33 on the pulley 32. To allow of free escape of air fromeach bottle during filling and to obviate any liability of the air-exitpipe afterfilliugabottle with liquid being charged with liquid orfroth,that would interfere with the free escape of air from the next bottleand the proper fill ing ofsuch bottle with liquid, and also to preventliquid dripping from the said air-exit pipe after a charged bottle hasbeen lowered and removed, there is provided according to this inventionwithin the bottle guiding and centering device 15 a depending air-exittube 38, that surrounds the liquid-s11 pply tube the top of which isconnected to an air flush-- ing device that will permit of the freeescape of air therefrom during the fillingof a bottle with liquid, butwhich upon the valve 5 being'closed to shut off the further supply ofliquid will force air down the said pipe and cause any liquid or froththat may have previously entered it to flow into the bottle be.

fore the same is removed from below the tube 14, but after it has leftthe packing-ring 16.

In the arrangement shown for this purpose in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 thedepending air-exit tube 38 is carried by an annular box-like holder 41,that is or may be secured to the bottom of the tank 2 and to theliquid-supply tube 14, depending therefrom, and is connected at one sideto the lower bent end of a vertical air-exit pipe 4O, the upper end ofwhich is connected to the air-flushing device.

. This device comprises a vessel 42, the upper part of which is dividedby a vertical partition 43 into two compartments 44 and 45, thatcommunicate with each other at the bottom through an opening 46 and oneof which-viz., 44-is closed at the top and the otherviz., 45is open atthe top. To the top of the closed compartment 44 is connected the upperend of the air-exit pipe 40 or each of such pipes when the machineisconstructed to fill several bottles simultaneously. In the-latter casethe several air-exit pipes 40 may, as

shown, be connected to the top of the chamber 44 by a pipe 40 common tothem. Arranged within the open compartment is a body 47, that issuspended from a lever 48,

- that is connected to the valve-operating mechanismas, for example, tothe rock-shaft 8. The vessel 42 is charged with water to such a heightthat when'the suspended body 47 is supported above the waterthe lowerends of the two compartments 44 and 45 will communicate with each otherthrough the'opening 46 left between the surface of the liquid and thelower edge of the vertical partition. The arrangement is such that whenthe valve 5, controlling the supply of liquid from the .tank 2 to abottle 25, is opened to allow of liquid entering the bottle thesuspended body 47 will be raised clear of-the liquid 50 within thevessel, and communication will be opened between the two compartmentsthereof, so

that air can freely escape from the top of the air-exit pipe 40, andupon the said valve being closed the suspended body 47 will besimultaneously caused to fall and enter the water and act as adisplacer, so as to raise the level of water in both compartments 44 45to such, an extent as to close the communication 46 between the two andcause air to flow from the upper end of the closed compartment 44 intothe air-exit pipe 40, and thereby force into the bottle any liquid orfroth that may have entered such pipe from the bottle dur-:

ing the filling operation.

The packing-ring 16, against which the bottle-neck is pressed duringfilling, may be arranged to bear against the lower side of the annularbox-like holder 41, as shown; The said packing-ring may conveniently beof conical shape internally to fit the exterior of a bottle-neck and maybe provided with a central hollow conical extension 16 to fit abottle-mouth.

In order to permit bottles to be filled with liquids charged with gasforexample, lagerbeer and stoutwithout undue frothing, there is provided,as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, within the liquid-supply tube 14, dependingfrom the discharge-aperture?) of the tank 2- and controlled bya valve5,-as hereinafter described, a supplementary liquid supply tube 51, thatis arranged to slide telescopically with a vertical plate or mid-feather52, Fig.

5, that extends downward a short distance from its lower end, or itmaybe provided with lateral exit-holes 53, as shown in Fig. 6. The saidsupplementary tube, which'may be in one piece, as in Fig. 5, or inseveral pieces arranged telescopically, as in'Fig. 6, may be connectedto an operating-rod: 54, that extends through the valve-rod 6'andisconnected to the operatingv mechanism of-the machine in such a waythat itwill be do: pressed when or just before the liquid-dischargevalve 5 is opened. and will be raised just before or simultaneously withthe closing of such valve. For this purpose its operating-rod 54 may, asshown in Fig. 5, be worked from an arm 7, fixed to the leverarm 7, usedto operate the corresponding valve-rod 6, the said arm 7 being connectedto the operatingerod 54 through a bell-crank lever 55 and link 56.

To obviate as far as possible contact ofthe liquid within thesupply-tank 2 with air, when this may be'desired, the said tank ispreferor rodsz6. The fioat,-w'hich is preferably balanced, is or maybeused to control the sup? ply of liquid to the tank. For this purpose IISthe operating-arm 58 of a feed-pump 59, fixed to the frame 1 andprovided with a rocking piston, may be oscillated by a link 60, that ispivoted to a vertically-adjustable pivotpin 61 and is oscillated by alink 62 from a crank 63, that is rotated through bevel-gearing 64 from adriving-shaft 65, provided with a fiy-wheel 66, capable of being rotatedfrom the front'of the machine. The said pin 61 is connected to the outerend of a rod 67, pivoted at 68, and is also connected to the lower endof a link 69, the upper end of which is connected to one end of a lever70, the otherend of which is connected by a rod 71 to the said float 57,the said pin 61 extending through a slot 72 in the upper end of the arm60. The arrangement is such that when the liquid in the tank 2 and thefloat 57 are at the normal height the position of the pivotpin 61 willbe such that the arms 58 and will not be oscillated to a sufficientextent to supplyliquid to the tank; but upon the level of the liquid andfloat falling the pivot-pin 61' will be thereby moved so much nearer tothe point of connection t0 between the arm 60 and link 62 as to causesufficient oscillation of the arms 58 and 60 to cause the pump to feedliquid to the tank through a pipe 58.

For centering bottles in bottling-machines each box or division 19 ofthe bottle-carrier 19 used for holding a bottle is according to thisinvention provided with a centering and holding device comprising, asseen in plan Figs. 1 and 4., two oppositely-arranged V- shaped blocks73, that are arranged within the box or division and are pressed towardeach. other by springs 74. Each block is or may be provided with alateral extension 75, arranged to slide against one side of the otherblock, and the upper portion of the two blocks may be made taper, orflaring (see Fig. 4:) to facilitate the entrance between them of abottle 25. To cause the blocks 73 to move equally from and toward eachother for centering, there is jointed to each of them, by means of a pin76, the adjacent ends of two bars 77, the other ends of which arejointed to other pins 78, arranged to work in centrally-arranged slottedguides 79 in the bottom of the bottlecarrier 19. 77 is a finger-piece topull the blocks 73 apart by hand.

For corking bottles the bottling-machine is provided withcorkingmechanism,comprising inverted conical tubes 80, (hereinafter calledcork-compressors,) that are equal in number and pitch to theliquid-discharge apertures 3 and are fixed upon the frame 1 adjacent tothe tank 2 and above an extension of the table 17. This extension of thetable 17is formed with additional holes 18, arranged directly below thecork-compressors, and below it are provided additional bottle elevators22, arranged in a similar manner to and operated by the same means asthe bottle-elevators 22 below the tank 2. Below and surrounding thelower open end of each cork-compressor 80 is a bottle-guiding device 15similar to the bottle-guiding devices 15 below the liquiddischargeapertures 3 and each of which is fitted with a conical packing ring orseat 16, against which the neck of the bottle to be corked can be forcedand held by the corresponding bottle-elevator 22 below. Within the upperends of the cork-compressors 80, of which there are three in theexample, work vertical plungers 82, that are fixed to and reciprocatedby a vertically-movable holder 83, that is raised and lowered bysuitable mechanism from the driving-shaft 65. In the example the holder83 is raised and lowered by two floating levers 8 1, each of which isjointed to the holder 83 at 83 and is also jointed to the upper ends oftwo eccentric-rods 85 and 86, that are raised and lowered by twoeccentrics 87 and 88, fixed on a longitudinally-arranged shaft 89,driven from the driving-shaft through bevel-gearing 90, the centers ofthe two eccentrics 87 and 88 of each pair being arranged at an angle toone another, so that when the pair of eccentrics are in the positionshown in Fig. 2 and are turning clockwise the center of the eccentric 88will be rising, while the center of the eccentric 87 will be falling,with the result that the corresponding lever 84 will be caused to forcedown the holder 83 and plungers 82 with considerable force. Adjacent toeach corkcompressor 80 may be placed a cork trough or guide 91, (seeFigs. 1, 7, and 8,) one end of which terminates in proximity to alateral opening in the side of the compressor. The said trough is madeof any desired length to hold a convenient number of corks 92,which areautomatically forced forward by a suitable presser, such as an arm 93,pivoted at 94 and acted on by a spring 95, the trough being then ofcircular arc shape, as shown. The tubular cork-compressors 80 may bemade of any desired length and may be made removable to admit of theirbeing replaced by others of a different size to allow of the corking.

from time to time of bottles whose mouths di'lfer in size. In caseswhere it is desired to select corks to fit bottle-mouths of differentsizes the cork troughs or guides 91 may be removed and the corksselected and fed to the compressors by hand. With the arrangementdescribed a set of full bottles can be corked while another set of emptybottles is being filled.

For bottling wines, vinegar, and similar liquids the tank 2, valves 5,and other parts that come in contact with such liquids are preferablymade of material such as glass or porcelain or of metal covered withsuch material, so as not to injuriously affect the quality of theliquid.

The operation of the machine is as follows: A bottle-carrier 19 afterbeing filled with bottles 25 is pushed along the table 17, so as tobring the bottles directly belowthe liquidsupply tubes 14 and apertures3 and above the elevators 22, which are then raised by operating thewheel 29 and chain 26, so as to bring the bottles into' contact with thepacking-rings 16, after which the lever is operated to raise the valves5 and displacer 47 and cause the elevators and bottles to becomepositively held in the raised position and the flexible connector to beheld in its wound-up condition, liquid then flowing from the tank to thebottles and air flowing from the bottles to the external atmospherethrough the exit-pipes 40 and chambers 44 and 45. When the bottles havebeen filled as full as the air contained in their upper ends above thelower ends of the air-exit pipes 38 will allow, the lever 10 is moved inthe opposite direction, so as to unlock the elevators 22 and wheel 29and allow the valves 5 to close and simultaneously cause the displacer4:7 to fall and force air to descend the exit-pipes 40 and 38 and blowout any liquid or froth there may be in them into the bottles, whichwill then have commenced to leave the packing-rings 16, so as to allowof the free escape of the air from the upper ends thereof. Theelevators22 and the bottles are then allowed to fall into their carrier, which isthen pushed forward, so as to bring the charged bottles below thecork-compressors 80, and a second bot tle-carrier, with another set ofempty bottles, is brought into position below the sup ply-tubes 14 andapertures 3. The elevators 22 are then again raised, so as to lift bothsets of bottles into the raised position, after which the lever 10 isagain operated to lock the ele vators and flexible connector and'to openthe valves 5, and the fly-wheel 66 is caused to make one rotation andcause the plungers 82 to descend and force the corks beneath themthrough the cork-compressors and into the full bottles below them, thecorking of one set of bottles thus taking place during the filling ofthe next setof bottles. The two sets of bottles are then released andlowered, the corked set removed, the second full set pushed forward inposition to be corked, and replaced by a third set of empty bottles, af-(or which the above-described operations of filling and corking arerepeated.

The upper ends of the valve-rods 6 are supported from the arms 7 in areadily-detachable manner, so that any one of the valverods can bereadily disconnected from its arm when it is desired that thecorresponding valve 5 shall not be raised. Similarly any one of theelevators 22 can be put out of use by removing the flexible connectorfrom below it.

Bottling-machines according to this invention can be variously modifiedwithout departing from the essential featuresthereof, so long as themode of operation or the'relative arrangement of parts are retained.Such machines can be operated by hand, as described, or by mechanicalpower. Thus in the latter case and for large sizes of machines the table17 may, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9, be of circular shape and beprovided with a circular bottle-carrier, which is caused, either aloneor with the table, to rotate in an intermittent manner, so as to firstbring a set of empty bottles below a set of the liquid-dischargeapertures from the tank, then to bring the set of bottles when filledbelow a corresponding set of cork-compressors, and then to bring thecorked bottles into a position in which they can be removed and replacedby another set of empty bottles, A

which are filled and corked in a similar manner. Again, in some casesthe filling and corking portions of the machine mayfor convenience bedisconnected from each other.

As will be obvious the improvement shereinbet'ore described, or some ofthem, can be used in bottlingmachines of various constructions otherthan that shown in the accompanying drawings.

What I claim is g I 1. In a bottling-machine, the combinationof a seriesof seats, a corresponding series of independent bottleelevators, meansfor engaging said elevators and adjacent parts of the frame forsimultaneously but independently raising said bottle-elevators, and adevice for locking said means to'hold the bottles against theirrespective seats during the filling operation, whereby bottles ofvarious heights may be simultaneously filled.

2. In a bottling-machine, the combination with a seat against which abottle can be held during bottling, of a bottle-elevator, a flexibleconnector adapted when pulled endwise, to raise said elevator and causethe bottle thereon to bear against said seat, said con- ICO nector beingconnected to-a part of the frame and also to a part on the elevator andmeans for exerting a pull on said connector.

3. In a bottling-machine, the combination with a plurality of seatsagainst which a number of bottles can be held simultaneously duringbottling, of a plurality of bottle-elevators, a flexible connectoradapted when pulled endwise to simultaneously raise each elevator and abottle thereon until such bottle bears against its seat, said connectorbeing connected to parts on the elevators and to intermediate parts onthe frame of the machine, and means for exerting a pull on said flexibleconnector.

4. In abottling-machine, the combination with a plurality ofseatsagainst which a number of bottles can. beheld simultaneously duringbottling, of a plurality of bottle-elevators, guides attached to saidelevators, guides attached to a stationary part of the machine, aflexible connector passed in a zigzag manner under and over the guidesattached to said elevators and stationary part of the machinerespectively, and means for pulling said flexible connector. I

5. In a=bottling machine, the combination with a seat against which abottle can be held du ringbottling, of a bottle-elevator, a flexibleconnector adapted when pulled endwise, to raise said elevator and causethe bottle there'- on to bearagainst said seat, said connector engaginga stationary part of the machine and also a part of the elevator, meansfor pulling said connector, and means for holding said elevator andbottle in the raised position.

6. In a bottling-machine, the combination with a plurality of seatsagainst which a number of bottles can be held simultaneously duringbottling, of a plurality of bottle-elevators, guides attached to saidelevators, guides attached to a stationary part of the machine, aflexible connector passed in a zigzag manner under and over the guidesattached to said elevators and stationary part of the machinerespectively, means for pulling said flexible connector and raising saidelevators and the bottles thereon, and means for holding said elevatorsand bottles in the raised position during the bottling operation.

7. In a bottling-machine, the combination with a plurality of seatsagainst which bottles can be held during the bottling operation, of aplurality of vertically-guided bottle-elevators arranged below saidseats, means for supporting a series of bottles above said elevators,guiding devices attached to said elevators, guiding devices attached toa stationary part of the machine, a flexible connector extending underand over said guiding devices, as set forth, means for winding up saidflexible connector, and means for holding said elevators and the bottlesthereon, in the raised position during the bottling operation.

8. In a bottling-machine, the combination of a tank provided with two ormore liquiddischarge passages, means for controlling said passages, anda seat surrounding each passage and against which the top of a bottlecan be held in a fluid-tight manner during filling, bottle-ele vatorsarranged below said passages, and capable of lifting bottles arrangedabove them, a flexible connector adapted, when pulled, to raise saidelevators simultaneously but independently of each other until thebottles thereon abut against said seats, said connector engaging a parton each elevator and parts on the frame intermediate said elevators,means for pulling said connector, and means for holding the elevatorsand bottles in the raised position during the filling operation.

connector, and means for holding said elevators and bottles in theraised position.

10. In a bottling-machine, the combination of a tank provided withliquid-discharge passages, means for controlling said passages,bottle-seats surrounding said passages, a table arranged below saidtank, formed with holes therethrough located below said passages, andadapted to receive and guide a bottle-carrier as set forth, a series ofelevators arranged to work in stationary bearings carried by saidmachine, guide-pulleys carried by said elevators, other guide-pulleyscarried by a stationary part of said machine, a chain led under andover-said pulleys, a winding-drum to which the ends of said chain aresecured, and means for holding said elevators in the raised position.

11. In a bottling-machine, a tank provided with a liquid-dischargeaperture having a surrounding valve-seat, a valve controlling saidaperture, means for opening and closing said valve, a liquid-supply tubedepending from said seat and adapted to enter the mouth of the bottle tobe filled, a bottle-guiding device arranged around said tube, apacking-ring arranged within the upper, part of said guiding device andagainst which the upper end of a bottle can abut, an air-exit pipeterminating at its lower end within said bottle-guiding device, andmeans for clearing said pipe after each bottling or filling operation.

12. In a bottling-machine, the combination ofa tank havingadischarge-opening, a valve controlling this opening, devices foroperating this valve, an air-escape pipe through which air can escapeduring the filling opera tion, means for causing an impulse of air toflow in the reverse direction through said pipe after each fillingoperation, and means whereby these means are operated automaticallyimmediately upon the closing of the filling-valve.

13. In a bottle-filling machine, an air-escape pipe through which aircan escape from bottle during the filling thereof with liquid, andautomatic means forcausing an impulse of air to flow in the reversedirection through said pipe immediately after each filling operation.

14:. In a bottle-filling machine, the combination with an air-escapepipe through which air can escape from a bottle during the fillingthereof with liquid, of an air-flushing device connected to said pipeand adapted to admit of the escape of air from the pipe during thebottle-filling operation, means for causing an impulse of air to descendsaid pipe, and means whereby these means are operated automaticallyimmediately upon the closing of the filling-valve.

15. In a bottle-filling machine, the combination with an air-escape pipethrough which air can escape from a bottle during the filling thereofwith liquid, of an air-fiushing device of which is open to theatmosphere, liquid arranged in the lower part of said tank and adaptedto control the communication between the two parts thereof, a displacerarranged to work in one of the compartments of said tank, and means forcausing said displacer to move in and out of said liquid, substantiallyas described for the purpose speci- 16. In a bottling-machine, thecombination of a tank provided with a liquid-discharge aperture, a valvecontrolling said aperture, means for operating said valve, aliquid-supply tube depending from said aperture, abottle-guiding devicesurrounding said tube, an air-exit tube surrounding saidliquid-discharge tube and open at its lower end, a packing-ring locatedwithin the upper part of said guiding device and surrounding said tubes,an air-exit pipe connected to the upper end of said air-exit tube, andan air-flushing device controlled bysaid valve-operating means, saidair-flushing device being arranged to allow air to escape upward throughsaid air-exit tube and pipe when said valve is open and a bottle isbeing filled with liquid and to cause air to be forced down the saidtube and pipe when said valve is closed.

17. In a bottling-machine, the combination of a tank provided with aliquid-discharge aperture, a valve controlling said aperture, means foroperating said valve, a liquid-supply tube depending from said aperture,a bottle-guiding device surrounding said tube, an air-exit tubesurrounding said liquid discharge tube and open atits lower end, a packing-ring located within the upper part of said guiding'device andsurrounding said tubes, an air-exit pipe connected to the upper end ofsaid air-exit tube, and an air-flushing device comprising a tank dividedby a partition into two chambers that normally communicate with oneanother and one of which is closed and connected to said air-exit pipeand the other of which is open to the atmosphere, water located in thebottom of'said last-mentioned tank and adapted to control thecommunicationbetween the two chambers therein, a displacer adapted tomove in and out of said water, and means connecting said displacer tosaid'valve-operating means and arranged to cause said displacer to enterthe water when the valve is being closed and to leavethe water when thevalveisbeingopened, substantially as described.

18. In a bottling-machine, the combination with a tank containing liquidwith which bot-' tles are to be filled, of an oscillating pump forfeeding liquid to said'tank, a lever for oscillating the piston of saidpump, a pin about which said lever oscillates and which is adjustablewith respect to said lever,

driving mechanism for oscillating said lever,

and a float arranged within said tank and connected to said pin so as tovary the position thereof and alter the stroke of said lever accordingtothe heightof'said float, substantially as described for the purposespecified.

,19. In a bottling-machine, the combination with a tank having aliquid-discharge aperture at its lower end, a valve for controlling saidaperture, and means for operating said valve, of a vertically-movableliquid-supply pipe extending downwardlfrom said aperture,

open at its lower end, and adapted to extend practically to the bottomof a vessel while the same is being filled with liquid, and means fordepressing said tube when said valve is opened and forraising it whensaid valve is closed.

20. In a bottling-machine, the combination witha tank having aliquid-discharge aperture at its lower end, a valve for controlling saidaperture, and means for operating said valve, of a stationaryliquid-supply tube depen ding from said aperture, a vertically-movablesupplementary tube arranged to slide telescopically in relation to thefirst-mentioned tube and in communication therewith at its upper end andopen at its-lower end,

and means for raising and lowering said supplementary tube,substantially as described for thepurpose specified.

21. In a bottling-machine,the combination with a tank having aliquid-discharge aperture at its lower end, avalve for controlling saidaperture,-and means for operating said valve, of a stationaryliquid-supply tube depending from said aperture, a vertically-mow ablesupplementary tube arranged to slide telescopically in relation to thefirst mentioned tube and in communication therewith supplementary tubeto'descend'when said valve is opened and to raise saidrodan'd'supplementary tube when said valve is closed, substantially asdescribed. i "22. In a bottling-machine, the combination at its upperendand open at its lower end, a

ofcorking mechanism mounted upon a'stationary part of the machine andcomprising a vertical tubular cork-compressor, a vertically-movableplunger arranged to-work in I said cork-compressor, meansfor' operatingsaid'plunger, and a'seat against which'the top of a bottle can restwhile being corked, and bottle-lifting mechanism comprising abottle-elevator, a flexible connector, a part on the machine and anotherpart on the elevator with which said connector engages, so that when theair-connector is pulled the elevator and the bottle thereon will beraised, means for pulling said connector, and means for holding saidelevator in its raised position during the corking operation.

23. In abottling-machine, the combination of corking mechanism mountedupon a fixed part of the machine and comprising two or more verticalconical cork-compressors, verof different diameter being insertedbetween them and centered preparatory to being raised to a seatingaround a liquid-supply orifice, a

tically-movable plungers arranged to work in guiding-frame for theblocks, and springs said compressors and carried by a common holder,means for raising and lowering said holder with plungers, andbottle-guiding devices with seats against which bottles can rest whilebeing corked, and bottle-lifting mechanismbomprising vertically-guidedbottle-elevators corresponding in number and spacing to said corkcompressors and arranged directly below the same, guide-pulleys carriedby said elevators, other guidepnlleys mounted on a stationary part ofthe machine, a flexible connector passed under and over the sets ofguide-pulleys, means for pulling said connector endwise, and means forholding said elevators in the raised position during corking of saidbottles.

24. In a bottling-machine, the combination of corking mechanism mountedupon a fixed part of the machine and comprising two or more verticalconical cork-compressors, vertically-movable plungers arranged to workin said compressors and carried by a common holder, levers andeccentrics arranged and operating substantially as described, foroperating said holder and plungers, and bottleguiding devices with seatsagainst which bottles can rest while being corked, a table adapted tosupport bottles to be corked, and

bottle-lifting mechanism comprising vertically-guided bottle-elevatorscorresponding in number and spacing to said cork-compressors andarranged directly below holesin said table and below saidcork-compressors, guidepulleys carried by said elevators, otherguidepulleys mounted on a stationary part of the machine, a flexibleconnector passed under and over the sets of guide-pulleys, means forpulling said connector endwise, and means for holding said elevators inthe raised position during corking of said bottles.

25. In a bottling-machine, the combination with col-king mechanismcomprising a tubular cork-compressor, of a segmental corktrough havingone end arranged in communication with the upper end of saidcork-compressor, and horizontally-swinging springactuated lever forautomatically feeding corks along said trough and into saidcorkcompressor, substantially as described.

26. In a bottling-machine, a bottle-centering device comprising blockspressed toward each other and adapted to admit of bottles normallypressing the blocks toward each other.

27. In a bottling-machine, a boLtle-centeringdevicecomprisingaguiding-frame, blocks arranged to move toward and from eachother, means for pressing said blocks toward each other, and resilientmeans for causing said blocks to move to equal extents toward and fromeach other.

28. In a bottling-machine, the combination with a bottle-carrier, of abottle centering and guiding device arranged within a box or division insaid carrier and comprisingtwo laterally movable V- shaped blocksarranged with their recessed sides toward each other, means for pressingsaid blocks toward each other, and means for causing said blocks to moveto equal extents toward and from each other.

29. In a bottling-machine, the combination with a bottle-carrier, of abottle centering and guiding device arranged within a box or division insaid carrier and comprisingtwo laterallymovable V-shaped blocks arrangedwith their recessed sides toward each other and each formed with alateral projection extending along the adjacent side of the other block,and means for causing said blocks to move to an equal extenttoward andfrom each other, substantially as described.

30. In a bottling-machine, the combination with a bottle-carrier, of abottle centering and guiding device arranged within a box or division insaid carrier and comprising two laterally movable V-shaped blocksarranged with their recessed sides toward each other and each formedwith a lateral projection extending along the adjacent side of the otherblock, and means for causing said blocks to move to an equal extenttoward and from each other, said means comprising two pairs of jointedrods, each pair being jointed to one of said blocks and to pins arrangedto slide in guideways in said bottle-carrier, substautially asdescribed.

Signed at the city of Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, England,this 23d day of April, 1902.

FREDERIG OLDERSIIAW JERRAM.

Witnesses:

THOS. DAVIS, ALBERT NEMEY.

